MATER DEI VS. SERRA LIVE UPDATES, SCORES: CALIFORNIA CIF STATE OPEN DIVISION FINAL

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA — For the second time in three years, the Mater Dei Monarchs face the Serra Padres for the biggest title in California high school football at Saddleback College. The Padres are hoping for a much different finish. 

In 2021, Mater Dei, playing emotionally for then coach Bruce Rollinson, thinking it might be his last game, prevailed 44-7. It turned out it wasn't his last contest — he coached all of 2022 before retiring — but the Monarchs have not stopped dominating. 

Led by four-year starting quarterback, Stanford-bound Elijah Brown, and up to 40 other standouts with Division I offers, Mater Dei (12-1) is again ranked among the top five teams in the nation. 

Serra (12-0), led by a couple of dozen seniors — one of the best classes the Central Coast Section has ever seen — is hoping to make up the gap led by a savvy, experienced and talented defense. 

A proud program that has produced two of the NFL's greatest players —‚ Tom Brady and Lynn Swann — is a giant underdog but hopes to represent. This is the last game in California for 2023. 

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LIVE UPDATES BELOW

Kickoff set for 8 p.m. ...

FIRST QUARTER

PREGAME READING

Players to watch: Serra — QB Maealuiaki Smith (6-4, 200, Oklahoma State commit), S Joseph Bey (6-1, 195, San Jose State commit), LB-RB Jabari Mann (6-0, Fact check: The teams met in the 2021 Open Division title game and Mater Dei prevailed, 44-7. … McManus is a first-year head coach and longtime DBs coach. … Walsh is in his 22nd season and propelled Padres over his alma mater De La Salle as prééminent NorCal program. This is the third straight season Serra has represented NorCal in the Open game. … According to 247Sports, Mater Dei boasts 10 of the state’s top 100 senior recruits and six of the top 15, and seven of the top 80 junior recruits, including No. 2 Nasir Wyatt, an edge rusher, and No. 6 Daryus Dixson, a cornerback. Since 2016, Serra is 84-17, Mater Dei is 95-5.210, San Jose State), LB-RB Danny Niu (6-0, 6-1, 215, San Diego State), TE Cole Harrison (6-5, 215), LB Marley Alapati (6-0, 205), WR-DB Kyan Loud (6-2, 180, Montana commit), RB-CB Jaden Green (WCAL, Utility POY), DE Colin Tahitua (WCAL DL POY).

Players to watch: Mater Dei — QB Elijah Brown (Stanford commit, 8,979 career passing yards, 111 TDs), RB Nate Frazier (5-11, 208, Georgia commit), RB Jordon Davison (5-11, 203, Jr., 50 college offers), DL Aydin Breland (6-5, 290, 5-star, top recruit California, Oregon commit), OT Brandon Baker (6-5, 285, No. 3 California recruit, Texas), CB Zabien Brown (6-0, 180, No. 4 California recruit, Alabama), OL DeAndre Carter (6-4, 340, No. 11 California recruit, Auburn).

Fact check: The teams met in the 2021 Open Division title game and Mater Dei prevailed, 44-7. … McManus is a first-year head coach and longtime DBs coach. … Walsh is in his 22nd season and propelled Padres over his alma mater De La Salle as prééminent NorCal program. This is the third straight season Serra has represented NorCal in the Open game. … According to 247Sports, Mater Dei boasts 10 of the state’s top 100 senior recruits and six of the top 15, and seven of the top 80 junior recruits, including No. 2 Nasir Wyatt, an edge rusher, and No. 6 Daryus Dixson, a cornerback. Since 2016, Serra is 84-17, Mater Dei is 95-5.

Skinny: The senior class of Serra is talented, experienced and extremely smart. The Padres returned nine starters from last season on defense, which is littered with sons of coaches. The team’s GPA is well over 3.0, according to Walsh. But while Serra is sending football players to San Jose State, San Diego State and Montana, Mater Dei’s roster is filled with players going to Power 5 conferences. Even reserves. Serra’s only hope rests on its defense forcing multiple turnovers. With 4-year starter and Stanford-bound Elijah Brown at QB, a long shot. Then again,experience, emotion and spirit matter. The Padres match the Monarchs in those categories. Both teams are expertly coached.

2023-12-10T04:03:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd